FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Nanooks hockey team has announced their second wave of newcomers for their incoming 2023-24 class. Four defensemen are highlighted today.

The defense is adding; Dawson Bruneski, Caleb MacDonald, Derek Pys and Broten Sabo.

Dawson Bruneski | Grad-Transfer | D | Camrose, Alta. | Maine (NCAA)
Bruneski joins the Nanooks after spending the last four years with the Maine Black Bears in Hockey East. In 2019-20, his rookie season, Bruneski only appeared in four games but did not record a point. In year two, he upped his playing time to 10 games and tallied his first career-points with two assists. In year three, he posted a career-high in games played and points. He skated in 22 games for the Black Bears in 2021-22 and posted four points, including his first-career goal alongside three assists. In his final season at Maine, Bruneski posted a pair of points in 19 games. He also posted a career-best +1 plus/minus his senior season. 

Bruneski is listed at 5'11", 203 lbs and is a right-handed shot. He is excited to join the 'Nooks for his final season after Alaska made national waves a season ago, "I chose Alaska because they proved last year that they have a ten to compete in the tournament and contend for a championship. As a graduate-transfer, you cannot ask for much more than that."

Coaches Thoughts
"Dawson's experience will be invaluable to our younger defense next year. He is an incredible worker with great feet and has all the ability to help immediately with our defensemen."

Caleb MacDonald | Freshman | D | Cambridge, Ont. | Whitecourt (AJHL)
MacDonald joins Alaska after spending three seasons with the Whitecourt Wolverines in the AJHL. His first season with the Wolverines came in 2020-21 - he saw time in 10 games and posted one goal and two assists for three points. In year two, MacDonald became a staple on the stat sheet, posting 33 points in 57 games. He lit the lamp six times but assisted on 27 others. In the 21-22 postseason he skated in 10 games, scoring three goals and posting four assists for seven points. His numbers nearly doubled in year three as the blue-liner skated in 59 games, scoring nine goals and posting 50 helpers for 59 points. He posted nine points in nine playoff games, scoring once and assisting eight times. In 2022-23 he was an AJHL (North) All-Star Team selection and was named the AJHL Most Outstanding Defenseman. 

MacDonald is listed at 6'4", 216 lbs and is a left-handed shot. He was confident he'd be a Nanook from the time he stepped on campus, "I knew I would play for the Nanooks when I visited the campus. The players and coaches were welcoming, the facilities were first class and the academics and educational support is what will help me be successful. Looking forward to a great first season! 

Coaches Thoughts
"Caleb is just beginning to scratch the surface of where he can get to as a player. He is someone who is hard to play against and can use his feet, shot and instincts to help create offense from the back end. He is going to have an opportunity to make an immediate impact for our club."

Derek Pys | Freshman | D | Ayr, Ontario | Sherwood Park (AJHL)
Pys is the third incoming defensemen on this list and second from the AJHL. He spent 2022-23 with the Sherwood Park Crusaders after three seasons with the Cambridge Redhawks in the GOJHL. In his one season with the Sherwood Park Crusaders, Pys skated in 27 games and posted 14 points on three goals and 11 assists. He also saw time in a dozen playoff games, posting six points on one goal and five helpers. During his 2021-22 season in the GOJHL, Pys was named the GOJHL (Midwestern) Best Defenseman and a GOJHL (Midwestern) First All-Star Team selection. 

Pys is listed at 6'0", 172 lbs and as a left-handed shot. The overall landscape of Alaska and their values is what drove Pys to choose the Nanooks, "I chose Fairbanks because of the values and camaraderie both the school and team expresses, and also the landscape of Alaska itself." 

Coaches Thoughts
"Derek is a good skater that has some strong offensive instincts. He has a great work ethic and we are excited to begin to work with him next season."

Broten Sabo | Freshman | D | Rosemount, Minn. | St. Cloud (NAHL)
Sabo is the final defensemen on the list of additions. He has spent the previous three seasons with the St. Cloud Norsemen, playing in 160 career NAHL games. In year one he played in 49 games and tallied six points, all assists. In year two, he played in a career-high 59 games and posted 27 points on three goals and 24 assists. He also posted a career-high +38 plus/minus. That season, 2021-22, he played in 11 postseason games and scored five goals and posted three helpers for eight playoff points. In his final season with St. Cloud, he posted a career-high 41 points in 51 games. He scored 10 goals and assisted on 31. He skated in seven postseason games and scored four points, all assists. 

Sabo is listed at 6'2", 194 lbs and is a left-handed shot. Sabo was drawn to the program and its staff when committing, "I chose Alaska because it's a great hockey program and I really liked the staff when I took my visit to Fairbanks." 

Coaches Thoughts
"Broten is an incredibly smart hockey player with the ability to help at both ends of the rink. He is a great person and we are looking forward to seeing his growth and development over the next four years."

The Nanooks will finish their signing class announcement with their goalie class. 

The 2023-24 season schedule is officially released, view it HERE. Ticketing information will be released at a later date. 

For more information on the Alaska Nanooks hockey program, follow @NanooksHockey on Instagram or Twitter, or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team page on Facebook.